Tent screen door



May 26, 1970 H. J, POHL ETAL 3,513,862

TENT SCREEN DOOR Filed Feb. 27, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet l /NVEN 70,95

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May 26, 1970 l H, J, POHL ET AL A 3,513,862

TENT SCREEN DooR Filed Feb. 27, 1969 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 3

l I l z,-..- I l 6o I .UJ S 57 I /WV FIG., f5 20 50g; 65 i-55 60 E 509 l i /60 s; 53 55 65 o 65 l g United States Patent O TENT SCREEN DOOR Harold I. Pohl, Washington, and Norman J. Diederich, New Haven, Mo., assignors to Kellwood Company, St.

Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 27, 1969, Ser. No. 802,877 Int. Cl. A45f 1/08 U.S. Cl. 13S-14 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A knockdown rigid hinged door for a wall tent, comprising a stationary frame detachably connectable to a fabric wall of a tent and hingedly connected to a swingable door, both frame and door being of knockdown construction. The swingable door is formed in a plurality of separable sections each of which comprises a frame which may be provided with detachable screening and detachable weather-impermeable panels, as desired. The entire door assembly is designed to be set up and taken down quickly and, when knocked down, may be stored in a minimum of space.

Our invention has to do generally with the art of tentage and relates more particularly to doors for tents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The usual tent is -provided with a door consisting of a fabric ap permanently attached as by stitching to the tent body, which may be closed when desired for privacy or t exclude insects and roving animals. The door may be partly of mesh screening to permit passage of air and light. Such an arrangement is entirely satisfactory for most purposes, especially for small tents and even for larger tents when it is to be set up for relatively short camping periods. k

However, in the case of larger tent structures, and especially when it is intended to remain erected for a relatively long period, it is desirable that a closure of a more substantial character be provided. Such a feature is especially desirable when the tent is to be used by small children inclined frequently to nin in and out, and is considered necessary or desirable to maintain a substantial bar against insects, etc.

BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE INVEN'IION A particular object of our invention, therefore, is to provide a tent closure means of rugged and rigid construction, knockdown in character so as to be quickly and easily assembled to or disassembled from a wall type of tent structure, permitting convenient transportation and storage in a minimum of space.

Another object of our invention is to provide, in combination with a wall tent of generally standard type, consisting of a exible fabric body supported by a collapsible frame, a closure in the nature of a door consisting essentially of a rigid frame and a rectangular door pivotally supported by said frame, said frame being of knockdown construction and arranged for quick and simple assembly with the tent fabric, so as to provide a substantial, weatherproof connection therewith, the door also being of knockdown construction and provided with screening and also removable paneling for protection against inclement weather.

., Still another object is to provide novel hinge means v 3,513,862 Patented .May` 26, 1970 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating a preferred embodiment of our invention,

FIG. l is a perspective view illustrating one form of tent to which our invention is applicable, showing a door embodying our invention mounted therein;

FIG. 2 Yis a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the line 2 2 of FIG. 1, partly in perspective, on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective-elevational view, on a reduced scale, of a door frame and door embodying our invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded elevation of a door frame corner portion, on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a similar elevational view of a mid-portion 'of the door frame;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken substantially along the line 6 6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 7 7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 8 8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary exploded elevational View of a side portion of the door;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the door and frame connection;

FIG. l1 is a fragmentary elevational detail showing means for attachment of the tent fabric to the door frame;

FIG. 12 is a transverse sectional view substantially along line 12'12 of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 13 is a cross-section taken substantially along line 13 13 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring first to FIG. 1, numeral 10 refers generally to a tent of any suitable type to which our invention may be applied. Generally speaking, the invention is especially applicable to a so-called wall tent of fairly substantial proportions. Although, in the illustrated example, we have shown a tent having an outside frame from which the tent fabric is suspended, it will be understood that our invention is equally applic-able to a construction wherein the tent fabric Ais supported over an inside frame. The walls of the tent may if desired be provided with one or moreA windows permitting passage of air and light.

Our invention is especially concerned with a novel type of door including a door frame F for which a suitable aperture is provided in one of the tent walls, in combination with a hinged door D.

The tent fabric 12, such as waterproof canvas, d-uck, etc., is provided, as by stitching 14 or the like, with-a hem 15 (FIG. 2) at the door opening to receive a reenforcing bar 18 formed of relatively stiff synthetic plastic material, aluminum, or other suitable material, whereby the tent fabric adjacent the door opening may conveni-v ently be detachably secured to the door frame;

The door frame F, as contemplated by our invention," is most conveniently formed lby extrusion of a suitable lightweight metal of the character of aluminum or magnesium. Said frame is formed at its outer extremity with a three-sided rectangular channel portion 20 having a terminal inturned flange 22.

As clearly seen in FIG. 2, after bar 18 has been inserted within the hem or pocket provided in the margin of the tent fabric, said marginal portion may readily be inserted into the rectangular housing 20 formed on the ouside of frame member F, the lip 22 serving as a stop to prevent inadvertent separation of the frame from the tent fabric after the latter has been tightened up on the frame.

Adjacent channel-shaped marginal portion 20` of frame F is a substantially flat plate portion 25, intermediate the ends of which is a longitudinally extending hooklike hinge member 28, which might also be described as of J-formation in cross section, designed to interengage with a similarly formed hinge member on the movable door frame, as described herebelow.

Also formed on the frame F inwardly of J-shaped portion 28 is a channel portion 30 for seating a T-shaped head 32 formed on a flexible plastic strip 35 which serves as a bumper and for weather-proofing and bug-proong the closure adjacent the door hinge. The arrangement just described extends around four sides of the frame, for inhibiting passage of wind, rain and insects.

The door frame F is formed in a plurality of metal extrusion sections, for economy and convenient transportation and storage. In the preferred embodiment shown, each side of the frame is formed in two sections, although there might be more or less; thus, with the top and bottom, there are six extrusions in this embodiment.

As seen best in FIGS. 2-7, the frame sections are provided with interengaging connecting elements at the corners and sides. Thus, at the corner, there is provided an angle bar 38, also formed of light weight metal such as aluminum, said bar cooperating with the adjacent portions of the frame by means of interengaging spring biased studs and sockets or apertures or the like, whereby these parts may readily be snapped into place and detached, as desired. Such mechanical expedients will, of course, be obvious to anyone skilled in the art. For furthering the security of the juuctures of the frame portions, We provide at the corners an auxiliary connecting angle bar 39 seated in a channel portion 40 (FIG. 2) formed on the inner marginal portion of the frame, said bar 39 likewise being detachably secured.

Thus, the mitered corners of frame F are detachably joined or disconnected by means of angle members 38 and 39 for quickly setting up or knocking down the door frame.

Similar means for detachably joining the side frame sections is provided, as seen in FIG. 5, which may comprise a connecting bar 42 disposed in channel 20l with studs mounted on leaf spring 43, said studs being engageable in sockets or apertures in the adjacent channel 20 of the frame. Also secured in channel portion 40 of one of the frame parts is auxiliary locking bar 39' telescoping into the channel portion of the adjacent frame part for added security.

Thus, in this embodiment, the two side sections are quickly, easily and securely connected and disconnected.

Swingable door D is formed in a plurality of separable elements or sections 50a, 50b, and 50c, although the number could be more or less. Each of said sections is rectangular, the top and bottom sections 50a and 50c being substantially identical in this embodiment, while center section 5017 may be longer. It will be understood, of course, that the arrangement may be varied as desired as to the number, size and construction of the various panels or sections, the major consideration being that the parts are readily separable for convenient transportation and storage and designed for quick and easy assembly, mounting and demounting.

As seen best in FIGS. 8 and 9, the frame portion of the panels or sections 50a, 50b and 50C are likewise extrusions of aluminum or other suitable material, the side members being permanently secured to the top and bottom members. The side member 55 of each panel (FIG. 2), in cross section, comprises a closed rectangular portion a side of which is extended to provide a J-shaped hinge portion 57 designed to mate with hinge element 28 on door frame F. It will be seen that the panels by this arrangement can be readily hung on the frame to provide a door securely supported to swing on a vertical axis, in the embodiment shown.

Extending oppositely from hinge element 57 on side member 55 is an angular flange 60l forming a channel which serves as a seat to secure wire mesh screening S. The marginal portion of screening material S may be secured to an elongated rod-like member 63 formed of rubber, synthetic plastic or the like seating in channel 60 of extrusion member 55.

Also formed integrally with member 55 is a channel portion 65, which may serve to seat an imperforate panel P, which may be a sheet of aluminum, synthetic plastic, composition material, or other suitable stiff Sheet material which may be seated in one or more of the panels when it is desired to exclude the wind, dust, etc.

Side member 55 opposite member 55 is a generally similar extrusion except that it does not require and accordingly lacks a hinge element such as 57 provide on side member 55.

The horizontal bars for the swingable door sections, which are permanently atached to the side bars just described, are seen best in section in FIG. 8. These members are likewise preferably formed as extrusions of aluminum or the like and may be generally similar to side bars 55 and 55 in that they provide means for seating a screen section S, such means being essentially similar to that formed on the side members. Also provided is a ilange such as 65 for seating an imperforate panel or plate, although such flange may be lacking on the top frame member, to permit insertion of the panel.

As seen in FIG. 8, suitable nesting means is provided on adjacent portions of the panels to insure a unitary door unit swingable as a unit. Any suitable mechanical dovetailing arrangement may be provided for this purpose. In the embodiment shown I provide simple male and female interengaging parts, such as a channel 70 o-n one horizontal extrusion member which receives in nested relation a snugly fitting bar portion 72 in the adjacent horizontal extrusion member of the adjacent section.

From the above it will be seen that we have provided an extremely simple and convenient arrangement for a door which may be mounted quickly and easily without tools and by a person lacking in mechanical skill, on a tent for permanent or semipermanent camping. The combined door and frame, while provided in a plurality of relatively small parts for convenient packing, storing and shipping, forms when erected an extremely firm and rugged construction which will withstand relatively hard usage for a protracted period of time.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, we do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of our invention being limited only by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination with a tent having a wall portion of flexible fabric with a door opening therein, a relatively rigid closure arranged in said opening for pivotal movement, comprising (a) a stationary sectional knock-down frame having means for detachable connection to adjacent fabric of the tent wall opening, and

(b) a door pivotally connected to said frame for swinging movement, said door comprising a plurality of panels interconnected to provide a rigid unitary door unit.

2. A combination as in claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a plurality of detachably connected Sections to form the top, bottom and sides of the frame, each section having means for detachably securing an adjacen marginal portion of the tent fabric. f

3. A combination as in claim 2 wherein (a) the frame is formed of extrusions having formed on the outside thereof a longitudinal recess,

(b) the adjacent marginal portion of the tent fabric having a hem,

(c) a longitudinal stiiener disposed in said hem,

(d) the hem and stiifener being securely seated in said recess.

4. A combination as in claim 1, wherein (a) each of said door panels comprises a rectangular frame having side members and horizontal members, one side member of each panel having hinge means cooperating with a side portion of said frame,

(b) adjacent horizontal members of said panels having interengaging elements, whereby said panels interlock to constitute a rigid unitary door.

5. A combination as in claim 4, wherein each of said panels has means for detachably seating a planar element for restricting passage through the panel.

6. A combination as in claim 5, wherein said planar element is a mesh screen,

(a) a longitudinal stifener being attached to marginal portions of said screen,

(b) said panel having means for detachably seating said stiffener.

7. A combination as in claim 1, wherein (a) said frame comprises a top section, a bottom section, and a plurality of interconnected sections on each side,

(b) all of said sections being extrusions having longitudinal recesses,

(c) and means for detachably securing said sections together comprising elements normally disposed in said recesses when the frame is assembled.

8. A combination as in claim 1, wherein said frame and door have interengaging hook-formed hinge-members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 528,391 10/1894 Rinn. 2,156,110 4/1939 Brukner. 3,065,019 11/1962 May. 3,352,313 11/1967 Kroening 135-1 3,380,507 4/1968 Bontrager, 3,453,786 7/1969 Rebarchek 5263 PETER M. CAUN, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

